Mouse-trap.



" .A No. 895,018.

` W. c. HOOKER.

y MOUSE TRAP.

K ArLIoATioN r1LBD.Nov.ao.1so1. asuma-s111521' a.

PATBNTBD AUG. 4, 190s.

WILLIAM cnaUNonY HOOKER', OIBINGDON, ILLINOIS.

`To. all 'whom/t may conce `\=TQ Be it known Vthat I, WILLIAM CHAUNOEY HOOKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Abingdon, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Mouse-Trap, of which the following is a specification. Therherein described invention pertains to that class o f mouse tra s commonly known as chokers". While I Iave in the drawi Us forming 'a part hereof shown it, and sha1 herein des'eribe it as a multiple trap, it will be evident that my improvements may be incorporated 'n a trap adapted to catch but one mouse orl other rodent. And it will be manifest that b` enlarging the s veral parts of the trap it ill be suitable fedr catching lar er animals than mice. leading object ofthe invention I to provide a novel spring. v

Another leading object is to include the spring and catching jaw in one, or to make t em integral.

Still another object is to utilize the last named means in a multiple-opening trap, or trap provided with a plurality of entrances for mice, a single wire constituting two jaws and the spri-n which actuates them.

A further o ject is to dispense with coiled Orlsprings of ex ensive construction.

` A further o ject is to provide suitable means on which said' jaws and springs, or a lurality of such, together withthe means or setting and releasing them may be mounted.

A further object is to provide a practical and effective trap of extreme sim licity which can be economically produced without the sacrifice of either strength ordurability.

To furnish a trap of the character described which is easy of mani ulation constitutes a further object of t e invention; while to provide a. novel means of restraining each jaw of the pairs thereof forms still a.n other.

A trap embodying the preferred construction of parts, and their mutual relationship, combination, arrangement, and organization in a composite body, is hereinafter described and made the subject matter of claims hereto appended, and is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which2-l Figure 1 is a top plan; Fig. 2, a front elevaspcincauon of Letters Patent.; Application med Nqvernber so, 1am. .serial No. 404,484.

Y MoUsEJrRAr.

view, taken in the line 3-3, ig. 1; Fig.` 4, a modification, a plan'seen from below. this view braces are added to the construetion shown at the other figures. Fig. 5 is another modification, a lan, showing a single jaw trap, the spring eing of sheet metal. F ig. 6 is an end view of the two-jaw spring, removed from the trap; and Fig. 7, a fragmental end elevation showing the parts in sprung engagement.

lThe same reference numeral Vused herein refers to the same or a similar part in the several gures of the drawings, in which 2 indicates a rectangular sheet metal base which may be economically formed by dies at a single operation. struck up from the top 4 o the. base longitudjnally of its median line, and transverse slits are cut near its edges to form bearings 5 for a pintle hereinafter described. The

Patented Aug. 4, 1908.

-tion, seen from either end; Fi 3, a sectional'v Lis 3 in pairs are'.

metal of the base is bent downwardly to form supporting sides 6 and ends 7, the outer por tions of the latter being cut away to form enthine-es 9. Coincidng slots 10 are cut to correspond with the bearings 5. Transverse slots 11 and 12 in airs are cut near each end Vof the base, where y stops 13 and cross-baxs 14 are formed. It preferred, (although I consider it unnecessary) braces 15, 16, of wood may be set beneath the base as shown at Fig. tand fixed by tacks or in any other bent to form eyes 24 which encircle the porl tions 1S and 19 and are preferably closed after assembling. The preferred relative positions of the two jaws thus formed, (bere being placed in position) are best shown at Fig. 6. The springmembers 20 are laid within the lips 3, crossing each other as best shown at Fig. 1, when a slight hammer blow will close the lips and secure said `members thereunder, but free to turn. The eyes 24 are passed downwardly through the slots 11, thence under the stops 13 and upwardly the trap, the depending 'Y longitudinally of the top, and through pivotal al ertures in a pair of tripping levers 28 passe through the slots 10 at each side of ortion of each of said levers being pointe and serrated for easy attachment to and securement of the bait, and each is perforated at its u per portion for the reception of the free en latch.

In the modification shown at Fig. 5 I have shown a tra adapted to catch a single mouse. To better il ustrate the torsion action of my improved spring I have here represented it as constructed of a strip of spring metal, one

of the end of which is bent to form the jaw and the other of which is fixed bv being passed through an aperture 29 in the base.

The operation is as follows: The parts being in unset positions (see Fic'. 7,) in which some torsional strain is exerted by reason of the jaws being limited in their upward movement by the sto s 13, a jaw may be depressed to the position est shown at Figs. 2 and 3, whereupon theoperator will brinflr the latch over top thereof and engage the latch point with the aperture in the trigger. It will be evident that this, because of the distal jaw being held by the4 stop 13 as before described, will exert still greater torsional strain on the member 20. '111e jaw at the other end of the same member 20 is set in the same manner, the maximum strain being thus exerted. The operation of setting the other jaws will be apparent, andwill not require further explanation. It is the custom of mice-to grasp vthe bait and attempt to escape with it by drawing on it. It will be manifest that this o eration, (the mouse having passed partly t rough any one of the jaws,) will throw the upper end of the tripping lever free from the latch and release t at' jaw, whereupon the torsional spring will forcibly untwist to a slight degree, it being limited, however, by the body of the mouse caught by the jaw and hanging between it and the base. It will be evident that the tension of the jaw at the other end of the spring is but slight-lv diminished, not, in fact, to a perceptible degree as regards efliciency.

t will be -readily seen thatmy improvements are susceptible of many changes as regards form, assemblage, mounting, construction etc., and that some of the parts may be used without the others and in traps difieril U in many respects from those shown. I there ore do not wish to be understood as but What I do claim is:- Y

1. In a trap, a torsion spring having a jaw at each of itsends.

2. In a trap, a torsion spring having an integral jaw at each of its ends. A

3. In a trap, a base having dependi v cutaway sides, a torsion-s ring-actuate jaw mounted on said base, a atch pivoted to the base,- andatrippinglever adapted to enga'e it.

4. In a trap, the combination with a ase having cutaway de ending sides, of a torsion spring including a jaw mounted on the base, sald jaw and cutaway portion adapted to coincide, a pivoted latch, and a pivoted tri ping lever adapted to engage it, whereby the jaw may be held set.

5. A trap comprising a base including ded pending supports provided with oppositely disposed-entries, a torsion spring mounted on the base 'and including jaws adapted to coincide with said entries, and means whereby the tra may be held set.

6. T e combination with a base inclu-ding supports having slots in its top and entrances in said supports, of a torsion spring mounted on the base and including U-shaped jaws adapted to coincide with said entrances,

means whereby the trap may be held set.

limiting my claims to specific constructions,

7. The combination with a base including" a sto member, there being apertures at each side t iereof, of a torsional springj aw mounted on said base, its movement in one direction being limited by said stop member.

8. In combination in a trap, a base including supports provided with entrances, a torsion spring mounted on the base and including a U-thaped 'aw at each end thereof adapted to coinci e wit-h saidentrances, the limbs thereof projected through said apertures, whereby their upward movement is limited, and means for holdinor the jaws in set position and for releasing t em.

9. A trap comprising an apertured base,A

there bein supports therefor provided with entrances, ips integral with the base, a torsion saring including jaws mounted insaid lips, t e jaws depending through said apertures and coinelding with the entrances, hinged latches adapted to rest-rain the jaws, and tripping levers adapted` for engagement with the latches.

10. In a trap, and in combination, a base,

a torsion spring-actuated j aw mounted thereon, a pointed latch pivot-ed on the base, and a pivoted trip )in lever provided with an a rture throug w ich the point of the latc is adapted to pass.

11. As an article of manufacture, a substantially square sheet of metal ha f' 0 sides and endsturned down therefrom, each end being cut away except at its middle portion,

`Vv` ":coinciding pairs of lips struck ngi-mm the topnlongits longitudinal median efor the aforesaid and for ihe purpose set forth.

urpose descrilnohrciding bearings struck Witness my hand at Galesburg, in the ovm from the top longitudinally therenf and county of Knox and State of Iliinois, this 5 near its sides for the purpose described, 22d day of November, 1907.

there being apertures near each comer and WILLIAM CHAUNCE EGOKER. Y transverse slotsbetween them and the longil.

tudinalfinedianie ofthe top, whereby a. stop is created, and the tpprovided with Witnesses:

VEBB A. HERLoc-KER, H. M. RICHARDS.

.transverse slots coinciding with the bearings l; 

